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本集內容

莎士比亞的戲劇可分為歷史劇，悲劇和喜劇。楊莉和科·威廉在本輯節目里將探討歷史劇的特點并重點討論理查二世這部優秀的歷史劇。

They welcome to the studio the celebrated 卓有成就的 historian and broadcaster Michael Wood. Michael is author of the biographical book In Search of Shakespeare.

Yang Li and William ask Michael what life was like in Elizabethan 伊麗莎白時期的 England, and how contemporary 當時的 society affected Shakespeare's view of history. They discuss the poetry and pathos （由…引起的）憐憫和同情 of Richard II.

As you listen, try to answer these questions. The answers are at the bottom of this page.

1. What was the population of England in Shakespeare's day?

2. Is the story of Richard II true?

3. In the play, does John of Gaunt believe that his description of England is still true?

莎翁名言

In the programme we hear part of John of Gaunt's famous poetic description of England from Richard II. You can hear a longer excerpt 選文 from this speech by downloading the audio clip on the right.

You will also hear this week's featured S Words saying , 'wild goose chase'. This saying is from a comic dialogue in Romeo and Juliet. The extracts are read by Simon Mathis and Benjamin Scheck.

Click on the pdf link to read the excerpts.

下集預告

Next week we move from histories to comedies, but we find that not everything is rosy 不是所有的事情都美好燦爛 in Shakespearean comedy. Yang Li and William speak to the famous British theatre director Gregory Doran.

Answers to the quiz:

1. About three million.

2. Yes. The central story is true and all the characters were real people.

3. No. Gaunt ends that speech by saying that the brilliant England of the past is 'leased out'; he believes it's finished.